Some eminent Victorians: personal recollections in the world of art and letters; . ing Iderived no such satisfaction; the impression leftupon me never passed beyond cold disappointment. With Martineau the case was wholly my feeling, he easily distanced all his contem- -poraries in the pulpit, and the impression left upon |me to-day is, that he and John Bright stand out asthe two greatest speakers of their generation. Though widely divergent in manner, they bothpossessed an unequalled power of impressing anaudience with the sense of ethical fervour andelevation of spirit. There was
Some eminent Victorians: personal recollections in the world of art and letters; . ing Iderived no such satisfaction; the impression leftupon me never passed beyond cold disappointment. With Martineau the case was wholly my feeling, he easily distanced all his contem- -poraries in the pulpit, and the impression left upon |me to-day is, that he and John Bright stand out asthe two greatest speakers of their generation. Though widely divergent in manner, they bothpossessed an unequalled power of impressing anaudience with the sense of ethical fervour andelevation of spirit. There was no sentence of Martineaus sermonsthat was not carefully balanced and considered, andyet even the most complex passages of philosophicthought were illumined and sustained by the senseof a passionate love for the truth he was seeking toexpound. In every sentence the white light ofreason was shot with fire; and although I think hissermons were always prepared and written, they hadthe effect, as he delivered them, of springing directlyfrom the heart of the man. He seemed less of a. i \ Emeiy Walker JOHN UKIGHT From the painting by WALTER WILLIAM OuLESS, the National Portrait Gallery. To face page 169. ORATORS 169 preacher than a seer; and although he never strovefor rhetorical display, even the most logical exposi-tion as it fell from his lips was charged with something of poetic impulse and inspiration. And in his case eloquence was enforced by anoble presence. The beautiful portrait by Mr. Wattsrecalls, without exaggeration of dignity, the manhimself as he stood there in the dimly lit chapel inGreat Portland Street; and in gazing again at thosechiselled features that seemed moulded by Natureto serve the speakers purpose, I can almost hearagain the tones of that deep sonorous voice which,in its grave and impassioned utterances, stampedevery separate word with something of the highfervour that so manifestly inspired the preacher. It was, I think, in virtue of this same qua
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